Washing machine



Sept. '19, 1950 D. TICE WASHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1947 I INVENTOR- Irv/n D. 7766.

Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WASHING MACHINE b I Irvin D Tice, Chicago, 111. Application September 1-0, 1947, Serial No. 773,152

3 Claims. '1

This invention relatesto a washingmachine and more particularly to washing machine apparatus usable in connection with a receptacle such as a bathtub. p I

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a portable washing machine apparatus. A further object of the invention is the provi- Sion of a washing machine apparatus usable with a receptacle such as a bathtub for performing a clothes washing operation. b

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a simple and inexpensive apparatus which may be used in washing and wringing clothes and the like.

The washing machine shown and described herein comprises a mechanism adapted to be placed in operative position on a receptacle such as a laundry tub or bathtub and the like and which in position thereon will perform a washing operation with respect to soiled clothes and the like positioned therein. "The machine includes a power source and reciprocating arms .for engaging the clothes to be washed and utilizesa simple mechanical movement for transmitting thepower from the power source to the said arms.

. It'also includes a ringer, power driven from the power source, and the whole device is of relatively light and inexpensive construction and adapted for ready portability. b

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds,

the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it bea ing understood that changes in the precise em bodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is a side View with parts in cross section and parts broken away illustrating the washl ing machine in position in a bathtub.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the washing machine with parts broken away and parts in cross section showing the same in position in a bathtub.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the washing machine taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

By referring to the drawings and Figures 1 and 2 in particular it will'be seen that a bathtub of conventional design has been disclosed which is indicated by the numeral I0 and that a portable washing machine has been positioned therein and that the washing machine comprises a transversely positioned telescopic frame including framing members II and I2, respectively, the framing member I2 lying within the area defined by the framing member I I and movable transversely thereof by reason of a rack I3 formed in operative position therebetween. The outermost ends of the framing members II and I2 are adapted to engage the bathtub I0 so as to support the washing machine in operative relation thereto.

One means of supportingthe machine is illustrated in the drawings and comprises the formation of curved tub engaging members or shoes I4 and I5, respectively (see Figure 3), on the outermost ends of the framing'rnernbers I I and I2, respectively, and which tub engaging members or shoes I 4 and I5 are preferably formed with resilient surface pads. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various forms of shoes can be employed for engaging the tub ID as long as the washing machine is adequately supported thereby.

The framing member II is of relatively longer length than the framing member I2 and serves as the principal support for the mechanism positioned thereon. A motor I6 is positioned on the framing member I I by means of a bracket I1 and the motor !5 is positioned in operative relation to a pinion gear I8 positioned on suitable bearings on the framing member II and in operative engagement with a combination gear I9 which includes a conventional gear tooth area on its periphery and a beveled gear on its uppermost surface. The conventional gear on the periphery of the combination gear I9 is in registry with the pinion gear and the combination gear is driven thereby. The beveled portion of the combination gear I9 is in registry with a beveled gear 20 which is positioned on an upstandingframe 2| which in turn supports .a pair of resilient ringer rolls 22, one of which is driven directly by the beveled gear 20 and the other of which idles with respect thereto. The ringer rolls 22 are spring tensioned with respect to one another by a plurality of springs 23 positioned in an appropriate housing above the said rolls 22 and the housing is hinged with respect to the frame 2I at one end and provided with a safety release catch 24 at the other end.

Positioned transversely of the framing member I I there is a tubular member 25, the ends of which extend outwardly beyond the sides of the fram ing member I I a short distance and which serves to position in transverse relation to the framing member II and in longitudinal relation to the bathtub II] a rod 26 which is adapted to be reciprocated in the tube 25 by appropriate means formed in connection therewith. The means comprises a rack 21 formed in the rod 26 and an adjacently positioned engaged gear 28 which is reciprocally mounted on the framing member H and is connected by a crank 29 with the combination gear [9 as best illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings.

By referring to Figure 2 of the drawings in particular it will be seen that motion imparted to the pinion gear 18 will be transmitted by the combination gear [9 through the gear 29 to the gear 28 which will be caused to turn back and forth by reason of the difference in diameter of the combination gear I9 and the gear 28 and their interconnection by the gear 29. The gear 28 will be moved in an alternate back and forth motion, the .motion being imparted by means of the rack 21 .to the rod 26 and hence to a pair of reciprocating arms v30 positioned on the ends of the rod 26 and depending therebelow, as best shown in Figures -1 and 3 of the drawings.

,Each of the depending reciprocating arms 30 is formed in the manner of a paddle and is preferably formed of a plurality of perforations 3| so that too great a displacement of material in the tub I is avoided. It will be obvious that when the washing machine is operated the arms 30 will move back and forth as illustrated in solid and dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings wherein the alternate end positions of the arms 30 are illustrated thereby causing a displacement of the water and clothes in the tub I0 in the manner effecting a satisfactory washing operation-on the clothes.

When the clothes have been washed they may be lifted manually and run through the ringer rolls .22, heretofore described, which operate continuously in one direction as long as the motor 16 is operating. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that if desired clutch means may be employed as a connection means between the gear 20 and the ringer rolls 22 permitting selective engagement or reversal of the motion thereof.

It will thus be seen that a simple and eflicient washing machine has been disclosed, the various portions of which are of relatively small overall size and that certain portions thereof may be readily formed in a collapsible manner, for eX- ample, the reciprocating arms may be folded upwardly against the bottom of the device thereby facilitating the storage of the washing machine when not in use.

It will also be obvious that suitable housing may be provided, if desired, for the motor and the several gears, enclosing the gears from the bottom of the framing member II in which they are positioned so as to prevent the same from coming into accidental engagement with clothes being washed. The same is true of, the exposed gear 20 on the uppermost surface of the device as a suitable housing may obviously be provided thereabout without departing from the scope of the invention.

It will be seen that means is provided for holding the telescopic framing members II and I2 in relative position and such means may comprise a latch member 3| positioned on one end of the framing member II and engaging appropriate portions of the framing member [2 so as to hold it in desirable extended relation with respect thereto and thereby efficiently and safely position the device on or over a receptacle in which the washing is performed by the washing machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A washing machine for use in combination with a receptacle and comprising a frame engageable with the said receptacle, a transversely positioned tubular guide on said frame and a reciprocating member positioned in said tubular guide and extending out of the ends thereof, depending paddlelike arms positioned on the ends of the said reciprocating member, a motor on said frame and gear means and a crank for conveying motion from the said motor to the said reciprocating member.

2. A washing machine comprising a two part horizontal frame member adjustable as to length and having a tubular guide positioned thereon, a rod reciprocally mounted in said tubular guide, the ends of which extend beyond the said tubular guide, a rack formed in the said rod and a slot in said tubular guide and gear means engaging the said rack for imparting alternate .back and forth movement thereto, a motor mounted on said frame for imparting movement to said gear means and clothes engaging paddles positioned on the said rod.

.3. A washing machine comprising a pair of telescopically engaged framing members, shoes on :the ends of the. said telescopic framing members, a tubular member positioned transversely of thesaid telescopic frame, .a rod positioned in the said tubular member, a rack formed in the said rod and a gear .on said telescopic frame engageable with said rack, and a crank pivotally connected to said gear for imparting back and forth movement thereto, and a motor and secondary gear for imparting movement to the said crank, paddles positioned on the ends of the said rod and depending therefrom.

IRVIN D. 'IICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 101,408 Roach Mar. 29, 1870 988,633 Evenden etal Apr. 4, 1911 1,831,914 I-Iovey Nov. 17, 1931 1,995,998 Nefedov Mar. 26, 1935 2,034,244 Mikulasek Mar. 17, 1936 

